Shloka 122

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नन्दी नन्दीश्वरो नग्नो नग्नव्रतधरः शुचिः लिङ्गाध्यक्षः सुराध्यक्षो युगाध्यक्षो युगावहः

Transliteration

nandī nandīśvaro nagno nagnavratadharaḥ śuciḥ liṅgādhyakṣaḥ surādhyakṣo yugādhyakṣo yugāvahaḥ

Translation

तो नंदी आहे, नंदीश्वर आहे; नग्न तपस्वी, नग्नव्रतधारी व परम शुचि आहे। तो लिंगाध्यक्ष, देवाध्यक्ष, युगाध्यक्ष आणि युगप्रवाह घडविणारा आहे।

Word by Word

• नन्दी (nandī): Nandi, the blissful attendant/principle of auspiciousness

• नन्दीश्वरः (nandīśvaraḥ): the Lord of Nandi (supreme master of the gaṇas and dharma)

• नग्नः (nagnaḥ): unclad, signifying renunciation beyond social marks

• नग्नव्रतधरः (nagnavratadharaḥ): bearer of the vow of naked asceticism (digambara-vrata)

• शुचिः (śuciḥ): pure, stainless, inwardly and outwardly sanctified

• लिङ्गाध्यक्षः (liṅgādhyakṣaḥ): presiding Lord/overseer of the Liṅga (Pati as the inner reality of the symbol)

• सुराध्यक्षः (surādhyakṣaḥ): Lord of the Devas, ruler of divine orders

• युगाध्यक्षः (yugādhyakṣaḥ): overseer of the world-ages (yugas), regulator of time

• युगावहः (yugāvahaḥ): bringer/conveyor of the yugas, the one who sets the cycles of time in motion

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Sahasranama-style hymn within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By calling Shiva “Liṅgādhyakṣa,” the verse establishes that the Liṅga is not merely a ritual object but the living seat of Pati (the Lord) who presides over and sanctifies all Liṅga-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

It presents Shiva as transcendent and ascetic (nagna, nagnavrata) yet sovereign over cosmic functions—Devas and time itself—showing Shiva-tattva as both beyond worldly marks and the inner governor of creation’s order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis on nakedness-vow and purity points to Pāśupata-style renunciation and inner cleansing: reducing pāśa (bondage) through vairāgya, śauca, and steady contemplation of Pati as the Liṅga’s indwelling Lord.